For as it would ill become me to be vain, indiscreet, or a fool:
So were there a patch set on learning, to see him in a school: 32
But, omne bene, say I; being of an old Father's mind,
Many can brook the weather that love not the wind.
Dull. You two are book-men: can you tell me by your wit,
What was a month old at Cain's birth, that's not five weeks old as yet? 36
Hol. Dictynna, goodman Dull: Dictynna, goodman Dull.
Dull. What is Dictynna?
Nath. A title to Phœbe, to Luna, to the moon.
Hol. The moon was a month old when Adam was no more; 40
And raught not to five weeks when he came to five-score.
The allusion holds in the exchange.
Dull. 'Tis true indeed: the collusion holds in the exchange.
Hol. God comfort thy capacity! I say, the 44
allusion holds in the exchange.
Dull. And I say the pollusion holds in the
exchange, for the moon is never but a month old;
and I say beside that 'twas a pricket that the 48
princess killed.
Hol. Sir Nathaniel, will you hear an extem-
poral epitaph on the death of the deer? and, to
humour the ignorant, [I have] call'd the deer the 52
princess killed, a pricket.
32 patch: clown, fool; cf. n.
33 omne bene: all's well
34 Cf. n.
37 Dictynna: a name given to Diana; cf. n.
41 raught: reached
42 allusion: jest, riddle; cf. n.
50 extemporal: extemporary
